The monopoly of airlines from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the Lagos/UAE routes particularly on the lucrative Lagos/Dubai route may have been broken as Nigeria’s domestic airline, the Medview Airlines has commenced full operations between the two countries.
This is just as many Nigerian travelers on the route have appealed to the federal government to ensure it provides all necessary support to the Nigerian carrier to succeed on the route.
Medview Airline which operated its inaugural flight into Dubai last Thursday operated almost full load with high hope of better days to come.
The commencement of flights between Nigeria and Dubai by the Medview Airlines came two years after another Nigerian carrier suspended flight operations on the route.
Arik Air operated on the Nigeria/Dubai route via Lago/Abuja/Dubai route for almost nine months before it suspended flights owing to unclear reasons.
Since the suspension of flights by Arik Air, Emirates Airlines has been enjoying the full monopoly of the route without any Nigerian airline reciprocating in view of the bilateral air services agreement between the federal government and the UAE authorities which allows airlines from each side to operate into each other’s country.
The flight which took off from the Lagos airport and stopped at Abuja airport to also pick up passengers before heading to the Dubai international airport, had on board the representative of the Minister of state for aviation, Alhaji Wakil, Minister for Women Affairs, Hajia Aisha Jumai Al Hassan, the Super Eagles striker, Odion Igalo and the representatives of the Oba of Lagos.
Speaking at the inaugural flight of the airline to Dubai, the Chief Executive Officer of Medview, Alhaji Muneer Bankole promised the over 200 passengers on board of the airline’s consistency on the route.
Bankole who said Nigerians who are widely traveled and frequent fliers on the route needed a pocket friendly fare and packages which he said Medview was offering, promised on time departure, quick passenger facilitation, free baggage allowance and quality inflight service.
“We have a special free baggage allowance, with two pieces of 25kg each, which gives 50kg, that is a wonderful gift as well and we want to say to you coming onboard this flight, we will continue to remember you, this is the beginning of good things to come to the country called Nigeria.
“Medview airline operates 4 flights to London as you are all aware and we are here on the Dubai route for 3 times weekly and we hope to commences Jeddah on schedule flight on 24th of December, 2017 on Thursday and returning on Sunday, this will continue till summer and that will make it 4 flights during the Ramadan. And the big news everyone of you is expecting is the direct flight to Huston come summer 2018”.
He expressed appreciate for the patronage, “I wish you all the best and I thank you for being part of this glory, may Almighty God continue to enrich your pocket and bless you and your family, I wish you season greetings and the best of next year 2018 that we are all looking up to. I pray for the government and the country Nigeria, May God continue to make the country great, thank you and God bless you”.
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